Carwashing apparatus



July 3, 1956 J. G. FRIERS CARWASHING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 3Sheets-Sheet 1 4! 35a 43 4b 3 1, 35 36b Join? G. 1 216175 y 3, 1956 J.G. FRIERS CARWASHING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l I1 l l I I L J F I I I I 4 llllll y 3, 1956 J. G. FRIERS CARWASHINGAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMay 27, 1952 W M m H 0 1 W W 1 n M Z .mr n A m J I! m United States Patent 2,752325 CARWASHING APPARATUS JohnG. Friers, Derby, Conn. Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,273 9Claims. (Cl. 134-123) The present invention relates to carwashingapparatus, and more particularly to the type of washing apparatus whichincludes a spraying frame from which jets of water or soapy solution maybe sprayed onto an automobile.

Carwashing apparatus have been proposed in which an inverted,substantially U shaped frame is guided along a pair of spaced tracks,the car to be washed being placed between the tracks. The frame is thenpushed or driven along the length of the caror the car is driven backand forth under the frame. Different supply pipes for soapy solution,and for rinsing or wetting have usually been used. This arrangement hasthe disadvantage that usually a pair of permanent tracks have to be laidin or on the garage floor, which necessitates fairly expensive cementwork; further, that the car has to be brought to the washing station;that only one car can be washed at a time; and also, that the car has tobe located fairly accurately between the spaced tracks to prevent damageto the car by the spraying frame. A further disadvantage of such anapparatus is that it takes up considerable space within the garageitself, and that fairly extensive and expensive plumbing connectionshave to be made.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carwashingapparatus which requires no outside plumbing installation, is entirelyself-contained, and is independent of any installed tracks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carwashingapparatus which may be brought to the car, wherever it may belocated-rather than the car to the apparatus-and which is portable andcan readily be moved about a garage, gasolene station, orparking area.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means which willguide the carwashing apparatus alongside the car to be washed, therebypreventing damage to the same, which means may be removably located withrespect to the car. It is yet another object to provide a carwashingapparatus which is capable of washing a plurality of cars in a row, suchas may be parked in a parking lot, removed from any permanentlyinstalled plumbing or water supply.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a carwashingapparatus in conjunction with a dolly, which is self powered andincludes the necessary means to Wash shoe, which may be placed againstthe appended claims.

panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus in position cars, but whichalso may be used as a portable source of power about a garage orgasolene station, as a port able compressor or pump, and to which asmall snowplough may be attached for power ploughing, or which may beused as a small tractor to pull equipment, or disabled cars, at lowspeeds.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide means permitting aspraying frame to be swingably mounted and connected to the apparatus.Such a spraying frame should be capable of being taken apart andprovided with interchangeable parts of different sizes for use withpassenger cars, trucks, and heavy equipment.

According to the present invention, I provide a carwashing apparatus inwhich a frame has a plurality of wheels. mounted thereon, to support theframe for moveit being broken away;

2,752,925 a patented July 3, 1956 A container for cleaning substance(preferably a liquid 5 detergent) is mounted on the frame, and has apipe connection to the piping from the main tank to the spray- The motoris also preferably connected to a 1 small transmission, having aforward, neutral, and reverse a connection is made from thetransmission. to the wheels, so that the wheels, and with it the whole=apparatus, may be power driven in a selected direction.

According to a feature of the invention, the fluid tank:

its weight counterbalances the weight of the spraying frame, therebypermitting;

ing frame.

position, and

is so located on the frame that the portion of the spraying framedistant from the tank; to be entirely supported by the support frame,and making the location of a track to support this distant portion:unnecessary.

Still another feature of the invention contemplates the use of wheelguide means to guide the wheels of the: support frame (which forms whatmight be termed a; dolly, or washing cart), so that the dolly, and thespray ing frame secured thereto, are always correctly spaced from thecar to be washed. These guide means are pref erably provided with alocating means, such as a wheel to be washed, so that the dolly wheelcorrectly spaced with respect to the car.

Yet another feature of the invention contemplates the provision of aspraying frame consisting of a single pipe having spraying nozzlessecured therein, which frame is guide means are swingably mounted on thedolly so that it may be folded against the dolly, thereby taking uplittle space in a garage. The frame is preferably so constructed as tobe separable into several sections, so that it may be taken apart easilyand stored disassembled.

Still other features of the invention relate to structures used in theconstruction of the dolly, and the spraying frame, and the elementsthereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the The invention itself,however, both as to its construction and its method of operation,together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best i beunderstood fromthe following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accomto wash a car;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 1; Fig. 4is a side view, partly in section, showing the water supply connectionto the tank of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing, i

the fluid supply connection to the spraying frame;

Fig. 6 is a top sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing;

a wheel connection to an axle;

Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the connection of' the wheelguides;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line Ill-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a wheel guide, part of wheels of thecar lz isaacross-sectional-elevational view of a onetQy-EigS; L to13;;Lgenerally. indicates the car to -be wa'shed. Two wheels of the car areindicated at 2a and 215, since the.-.apparatus. is :designedtocooperate'with alignedwheels of.- the-car to? be washed. Sgenerallyindicates a-dolly,

on. small-cart; having-wheels 4;"5, 6, and 7 located-on.

opposite sides,=and= atopposite ends-ofthe dolly 3. 'The dolly :is builtrip-of a frame-8 and -is-preferably-provided witht-a; platform,ror'support 9, on which the various elements .-f :ithe apparatus -may beconveniently mounted.

Secured to the frame is a handle 8-so that the=dolly may beconveniently-manipulated. -A motor I 10 is mounted on the platform 9- ofthe dolly 3 the motor is connected to;.a.-pump 11.byany suitable andwellknown means, such asta flexible coupling. A gearbox- 12 is connectedtovthe. motor drive shaft,*for' example by being secured tothe mainshaftof thepump 11,- asshown. The gearbox preferably has a high speedreduction, and is provided with: a shift"lever-having a handle- 13permitting shifting thewgearsto a'forward (F), neutral (N) and reverse(R) direction. At the output side of the gearbox 13,-.,a sprocket-wheel60 is mounted and connected as will appear hereafter.

--A:tank 14 (which-may be a standard, 55, gallondrurn) is mountedonplatform 9 inany suitable and well known manner; for examplebywelding, by;a circumferential strap, orthe like. This tank-maybeilfilledin any suitable manner, e. g.-by filling it with agardenjhose. .(If it is de'sired to fillthe tank whilethe ,dolly is inmotion, a hose may be connected to a'fillerpipe'17 (see Fig. 4) whichis-placed-within'an'inlet pipe 15 secured-.to the tank. Inlet-pipelS issplit at the far end thereof, as shown at16,-and a tightening nut 18 isplaced over the'split-end. --When it is desired to store themachine,filler pipe 17 is pushed into inlet15.as far as itwill go, therebytaking up no space beyond the outline of the dolly; however, when-the;dolly'3 is moving, a hose connected to pipe 17--when pushed in.might get tangled withthe wheels 6 and 7 of dolly3,'unless.a rigidclearance memberisprovided. 'When"fill er pipe17 isextended, a hose willclear the wheels of the dolly.

The tank-'14 is connected to the pump by rneans ofla pipe 20. A soapvessel, or detergent. container, 21 is secured to theplatform in any.suitablemaunerand connected to the pipe bymeans of asupplypipeiZZfind aninjector connection'24. in pipe 22 to control theflow of soap ordetergent, ior othercleaning substance. 'The cleaning substancemay be aliquid, and may be gravity fed. as shown irfFigQZ.

The car 1 is wetted and washed'by a spraying frame 25. This frameessentially consists of a pipe having nozzles 26 screwed therein. Theframe is'secured to the: dolly'3 at-one side of the dolly. -Anupright-fastening member. is mounted on theframe of the dolly 3 and theframe; 25 .is secureduto this fastening-member 27':by= anysuitablemeans,fOII BXMTlPlfi' .by straps encircling the frame 25 and welded to member27. The frame 25. .is;.preferably,secured so as :10 be;swingablezabout--its upright portion 28 adjacent the member 27,,1s as to;take up lessspace in a garage. -In1Fig.- 1,;251; dicatespzin dotted lines theposition, offrame. 25 whenswung into storage position. The frame 25 ispreferably-made .of two sections; one, consisting, ofvan uprightpipeportion 28* and a horizontal pipe portion 29a; the other of a generallyqriz n l g pep r nn-221 andatdepending pipe poftionfil. "The twosections aregjginedfltggether,

A shutoff co'ck v23 is placed by a union 30. In order to take mechanicalstrain otf -theeooperating-facesofthe union,"I prefer to makethe pipeportion 29b of smallerkdiameter than the pipe portion 29a. The part ofthe union secured to the smaller pipe may then be bored out so that pipeportion 2% may extend beyond the face of the union part and can slideinto the pipe portion 29a up to the first nozzle adjacent the union. Theunion may also be located on the upright portion 28 of theupipeframe'Zi-andthe horizontal portion 29 made in one piece. By havingvarious sizes of pipe frames it.istvthereforenpossibletorwash smallcars, as well,..a lflfge t1;u cl;s,..and ,still haveraspraying framewhich is close enough to "the surface of the car to be washed forefficient cleaning. The .;spraying frame 25 is preferably made oflightweight pipe, such as aluminum, and it can be entirely selfsupporting. It is to be noted that the weight of the spraying frame 25can be entirely balanced by the weight of .the tank. When'a standard *55gallon ,steel jdrurn' is used it. must ,be ,so

mounted that its center of gravity falls betweena median line; ofthedolly and the sideopposite the fastening member 2,7,in order to"balancea sprayingframe of standard 1" galvanized iron pipesufficientlydarge. to .clearthe largest passenger cars currently made.If thespraying frame is made ,of-alurninum pipe of ,similar size,nounbalanceofthedjolly will resultueven, if the tank 14 is mounted,centrally ofthe dolly 3. Whencomputing .the amount" of off-centermounting of tank 14, the weight of the watergin .the sprayingfrarne25has to be .considered; as .well as the weightof the frame itself.

'The dolly 3, together with the spraying frame 125, is guided along thelength of the. car. 1v ,bymeans vof...whe el guides'35. 'Thesewheelguidesarepreferably madewin gether bystraps 37. The wheels of thedolly .3 can then ride on the surface onwhichthewheel guides are placed.The wheel guidesrare joined. loosely: together so as to accommodateuneven .surfaces,- such .as would beencountered at parking. areas. The:angles 36a, 136b, .are notched as at 45, near one .end, a. plurality ,ofnotches being preferably provided so. that thetotallength of the wheelguide maybemade .longenor shorter. The:other endof each section. is,providedwith. an, extension-43, set off, as at44, and providedwith studs46 fittinginto the notches, of j'the next adjacent. section.

In order tolocateihe .wheelguide 35-with respect .to the car 1, .one,,or severalof the sections are provided with wheeljshoes fitting againstthe wheels. 2a,-2b ofcar 1. These wheel, .shoespreferably have a forkedsection 38,. secured. to asupport member .39 spacing the =-fork 38'fromajfasteningplate 40..which. may be secured to one of the wheeLguide,angles,,.36a. The wheelshoes are preferably adjustablealongthelength of the wheel guide, to accommodate cars or trucks-ofdiffering-wheel bases; abolt and nut combination, slidablein a notch42.and having a bolt v4l securedttothe fastening platev40 forms a simplemeans ,.of.,mounting the: wheel shoes .adjustably on the wheel, guide.

As noted above,,.,the.spraying frame 25- is; preferably mountedgonfthe.dol1y3 to swing from an extended posi- 'over the ient sleeve 50. Thesplit sleeve has an outlet stub pipe secured thereto. The outlet stubpipe 53 is then secured by means of a nut 54 to pipr 47 as is well knownin the plumbing art. The split sleeve 52 has a clamping extension 55,and can be tightened together by screws 55'. When the screws 55 areloose, the frame 25 can be swung readily from extended into storageposition. Tightening of the screws 55 when the frame is in extendedposition will line up the outlet stub 53, holes 51 and 49, and permitflow of fluid from the pipe 47 into the frame 25, without danger ofleakage, due to resilience of the interposed sleeve 50. The split sleevemay be secured to the upright member 27 of the dolly 3, for example bymeans of screws 56, and form in itself an attaching means for the frameto the dolly.

The dolly 3 may be pushed along the length of the car 1, or it may bedriven along under its own power. The sprocket wheel 60, connected tothe gear box 12 (which is connected to the motor drives a sprocket chain61. Chain 61 is in engagement with a second sprocket wheel 62 which isfast on an axle 64, for example by means of set screw 63. The axle 64 issecured to frame 8 by means of bearing 65 and connects the two wheels 4and 6 of dolly 3. Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, I have thereshown a simple driving connection of the wheel 6 to the axle 64. Thewheel 6 is provided with a hub 66 and a rim support 67, having holes 67therein. The hub is freely rotatable on the shaft 64; an attachingmember having a hub 68 is located on the shaft adjacent the wheel 6. Theattaching member is provided with a radially extending strap 69, havingaxially extending pins 70 secured thereto, fitting into the holes 67.Both the shaft and the attaching member have a radial hole boredtherethrough, through which a cotter pin is passed, connecting the shaft64 and the hub of the attaching member, 68, together, as shown at 71.The pins '70, engaging the wheel 6, will then drive the same, when theshaft or axle 64 is being driven.

The motor 10 driving the pump and the dolly may be either a gasolene orelectric motor, two horsepower being an adequate size. For some purposesit may be preferred to use a gasolene motor, since it is entirelyindependent of any cables or power connections and the dolly may then beused as a small tractor. Small gasolene engines are usually started bymeans of a starting rope, as is well known. To facilitate starting sucha motor, and winding the rope around a starting drum, I provide aone-way clutch, particularly illustrated in Fig. 12 of the accompanyingdrawings. 80 is a central shaft which may turn in either direction; adriven shaft (which will turn in one direction only) 81 has an axialbore drilled therein, and the shaft 80 is placed into the bore, whichshould be of such size that shaft 80 can just turn freely within shaft81. The shaft 81 has a depression, or relief formed therein, as shown at83. A substantially tangential bore extends from the outside of shaft 81to the depression, as shown at 82. The outside end of this bore 32 istapped to receive a holding screw 86. A roller 84 (which may be a smallball, or a rolling pin, depending on the axial length of the depression83) is placed into depression 83, between the shafts 81 and 80. A spring85 holds the roller 34 in position and urges roller 34 to a locationwhere it will engage both shafts. It is to be noted that the depressionor relief 83 is so formed as to merge smoothly into the circular contourof the bore of shaft 81. When the central shaft 80 turns in acounterclockwise direction, it will take along the roller 84, which willbecome wedged between the shafts 80 and 81, thereby turning shaft 81.However, when shaft 80 is turning in a clockwise direction, roller 84will turn and roll away from the position where it becomes wedgedbetween shafts 80 and 81, and shaft 81 will remain stationary. The smallholding screw 86 may be screwed in or out of bore 6 82, therebyadjusting the tension of spring and controlling the backlash of theone-way clutch.

The depression may also be formed in the central shaft, and the outsideshaft 81 may be left round, or the depression may be formed in bothshafts, 80 and 81, as desired. In such cases the bore 82 has to beformed in the central shaft, and care must be taken in assembling theshafts together.

The nozzles 26 screwed into the spraying frame have generally a verysmall central duct through which the spraying water, or washingsolution, is being forced. Small solid particles which may become lodgednear the outside of the nozzles may deflect the stream of water towardsundesirable directions. In order to keep the streams of water from thenozzles always: directed on the car, I prefer to enclose the pipe with abaffle, or splashguard, 9i]. Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, thesplashguard essentially consists of sheet metal which has a troughshaped portion 92, partly encircling the pipes 28, 29a, 29b, and 31, andtwo projecting flanges 93, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 14. Thebaffle 90 is held on the pipes by means of screws 91, clamping thetrough shaped portion 92 securely around the pipes. The baflles may bemade either in small, individual guards located over the pipes in theregion of the nozzles, or they may be made substantially continuousalong the lengths of the pipe sections. At the junction of thehorizontal and the vertical sections, the splashguards may then beinterconnected as shown at 94 and 95 (Fig. 13), thereby adding to thestiffness and rigidity of frame 25.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a modified form of pipe connection whichis also suitable. The main water valve, 48, is here placed in pipe 2t)leading from the tank 14 to the pump 11; the detergent solution isinjected at point 97, at the high pressure side of the pump. If thisarrangement is used, a suctioninjection device (such as a venturi tube,for example) is necessary in order to prevent the water under pressurefrom escaping into the detergent vessel 21.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The wheel shoes are placedalong aligned wheels of the car to be washed, with their forked section38 against the wheels 2a and 2b. The wheel guide sections 35 are then assembled as shown in Fig. 9, and secured to the wheel shoes. In themeanwhile, the tank 14 of the dolly can be filled. The dolly is thenbrought to the car, and wheels 4 and 5 thereof substantially alignedwith the Wheel guide. Valves 23 and 48 are closed, the handle 13 set onneutral (N), and the motor started. The spraying frame is then extendedto the solid line position shown in Fig. l, valve 48 is opened (valve 23remains closed) and the handle 13 moved to engage the gearing in theappropriate direction to drive the dolly 3 along the length of the car 1to Wet the same. A detergent (which is preferably liquid) is then placedin vessel 21. The valve 4-6 is partially closed (less pressure and lesswater being necessary for the soaping operation) and valve 23 opened.The gearshift handle 13 is then moved in the direction opposite to itsprevious setting, and the dolly 3 will travel again along the length ofcar 1, soaping the car by the soapy spray from frame 25. Then thedirection of travel of the dolly again is reversed, valve 48 openedfully, and valve 23 closed, and the car is rinsed. It is usuallyadvantageous to permit the dolly to travel back and forth along the carwhen rinsing to wash off any soap or dirt which may lodge in crevices ormoldings.

I have found that a SS-gallon drum is sufficient to wash one car, about40 to 45 gallons of water being necessary for one washing operation.About 1 /2 pints of a commercial detergent, such as Immunol Solvent(manufactored by the Haas Miller Corp, Philadelphia, Pa.) are sufficientfor thorough soaping.

The dolly itself may be quite small, about 2 /2 ft. wide by 4 /2 ft.long, and about 3 ft. high. frame should have a minimum horizontalclearance of The spraying 7 /2.:ft.,tand :may' be about 6 to 8 ft. high,if it is intended to wash the now :current passenger automobiles.Bymakingxthe-Itra'ck guide sections about ft: -long,-- and of lightweight,'imetal,'"they can-.easily be stored on -top of the dolly.

Theap'paratus: is entirely independent ofany'permanent'plumbingconnections,=and"by placinga larger tank on the dolly, a number of carsin a row (-such aswould be: found on r a parking place)- can-be '-washed,' without disturbing. their position, and' withoutdriving "them toa predetermined washing-station. The wheel guides will keep the. dollyand the frame properly spaced-from=the cars to benwashed, and 'willguidethe dolly along the cars, even ifv the: surface on which thedolly runsis uneven. ilfdesired, the 'inletpipe '17 may be extended, and the tankmay. be continuouslyfilled-whilethe apparatus iswashing. "This:may-proveadvantageous, wherethe source of -watercan supply more-water-than isneeded for soaping, butnot enough; for-wetting,-.andrinsing.

It will be understood that each of the elements de-' scribed above, -ortwo or'more together,--mayalsofind a useful application in other typesofwashing apparatus, difiering from the type describedabove.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in asmall, movable carwashing apparatus, it is not intended to be limitedtor the'details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made. By applying current knowledge, the invention,including the features that fairly constitute essential characteristicsof the generic and specific aspects -thereof,-may be'adaptedto variousapplications-and such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalenceof the followingclaims.

, I claim:

1. In washing apparatus for bulky objects a liquid supply having anoutlet; means'for supplying liquid at said outlet under pressure; and aspray frame connected to saidv outlet and comprising a pipe'bent'intosubstantially inverted U-shaped form adapted to be secured'at one leg ofthe U only-and having a substantially vertical section, a horizontalsection having one end integral with said vertical section and securedto the upper end thereof,'and a depending section secured to the free'end of the horizontal section; and stiffening members secured to saidsections,.said stiffening members having a troughshaped portion and aprojecting 'flange'portion, the troughshaped portion being secured overthe pipe fromthe outside thereof with the flange portion projectingparallel to the sections inwardly ofthe- U; and connection meanssecuring the flange portions together adjacent the respective junctionpoints of the vertical section, the horizontal section, and thedepending section.

2. A car washing apparatus comprising a'dollyhaving a substantiallyrcctangularframe and a plurality of wheels secured to said frame tosupport the same-for rolling movement over a surface; a fluid tankhaving: a predetermined center of gravity secured to said frame, saidtank being so located-that the vertical projection of the center ofgravity falls in the region between a longitudinal median line of theframe and one side thereof; a pump mounted on said frame; fluidconnection means from said fluid tank to saidpump; a drivingmotormounted on said frame. and operatively connected to said pump; meansselectively connecting the driving motor toat least one wheel of thedolly; a spraying pipehaving a substantially upright portion, asubstantiallyhorizontal portion secured to said upright portionat itsupperend; and a depending portion secured =at the upper-end thereof tosaid substantially horizontal: portion, the lower end of said dependingportion-being freeuto 'formzan inverted U frame secured at one leg-onlytothe frame, said spraying pipe having its upright portion securedto'the'other side of the dolly in substantially vertical direction sothat theweight of the spraying pipeincluding the upright, the.horizontal,- and the dependingtportionstwill be counter- 8 balancedbytheweight of the tank; and conduit means removably" connecting said pumpand said spraying pipe.

3. A car washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the horizontalportion is-divided intoa first pipe .section and asecond pipesection,andthe second pipe section is ofslightly smalleroutside-diameterthan the inside diameter of thefirst pipesection; and a u'nionisprovided'to join said sections together, saidunion' having a pair ofparts formed withcooperating faces and having one part mounted'on thefirst-pipe section and the other part 'onthe second pipe section; saidsecond'section having a projecting stub extending through'andbeyond thepart of the: unionassociated-therewith and disposedin telescopingrelation withinthe inside of the first pipe section whereby mechanicalstrain due to the-bendingmoment of the depending section is taken up bythe projecting stub and mechanical strain is taken oif'thegcooperatingfaces of the union.

4. "A car washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein theuprightportion of the spraying pipe is secured to the dolly for swingingmovement-*about' the axis of. the pipe to provide for-movement of thehorizontal portion and the free depending portion secured theretowithout disturbing the position of the=dolly so that the spray pipe maybe swung to be located in an upright planesubstantially coinciding withthe-other side of the dolly.

5. A carwashing' apparatus according to claim 2 including stiffening andspray directing members secured to the portions of thesprayingpipe,-saidstifiening and spray'directing members comprisinga trough shaped portionanda projecting flange portion, the itrough-shaped portion beingsecured'over the spray pipefrorn the outside thereof with the flangeportion projectingparallel to the pipe portions inwardlyof the, U, andconnection means securing the flangeportions together adjacent therespective junction. points of ,the upright lpipeportion,the"ho'rizontalpipe portion and the depending pipe portion.

6. An independently movable car washing :apparatus comprising a wheeledframe;,a fluidtankmounted thereon, a spraying frame securedtosaidwheeled frame connected to said tank; wheel: guide meanstodefineathepath of said wheeled frameand beingadaptedto cooperate withthe wheels of the "car to :be:washedtand'comprising a' pair ofsubstantially; parallel elongated! members idefining. a guide trough forthe wheels of the-apparatus;and':locating shoes secured to. one ofsaidfmernbers= opposite theside of the other member and extendingtowardthe-carto be washed and adapted to' -be'removably; placed'against-thewheel of the car to be washed; whereby, when the wheels on one side ofthe apparatus are :dispose'd'between said elongated members, vand the.locating shoes are placed against the wheels of the car to bewashed,'the apparatus may travel along the lengthof'thecar withoutdanger of collision therewith.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein. the 10- cating shoescomprisea holding section extending transversely of the length of theelongated members; connection means associated with said elongatedmembers and securing said holding sectionto one of said members; and aforked section extending substantially parallel to the length of saidelongated members andsecured to said holding section, and adapted topartly embrace a wheel of the car to be washed.

8. An apparatusaccording to claim? wherein, theconnection means areslidablealongithe. lengthof ,theelongated member, .whereby the.locating. shoes are. adjustable for different lengths of wheel-bases ofcarsto be washed.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 including spacing means securedto.said elongated-members .to maintain said members .inpredetermined,.spacedtparallel relation.

' (References 011 following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Oliver Nov. 27, 1906 Mason May 16, 1916Brown July 1, 1924 Lostetter Aug. 14, 1928 Gibson Sept. 4, 1928 BadgerSept. 22, 1931 Cunningham July 5, 1932 Walton Feb. 13, 1934 Mackin Oct.13, 1936 Rauen May 4, 1937 10 Vaszin Aug. 17, 1937 Borenstein Aug. 24,1937 Heinz Dec. 7, 1937 Schroeder Aug. 8, 1939 Elliott May 27, 1941Griifith Dec. 26, 1944 Gore Dec. 9, 1947 Potts Nov. 23, 1948 Hopper Mar.29, 1949 Baggott Aug. 28, 1951 Hanson May 20, 1952 McNair Feb. 3, 1953Vani Aug. 11, 1953

